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About Us!

Our Story

​Since 1999 the RoboHawks have existed as an Engineering Club at Champlain Valley Union HS in Hinesburg, VT mentored by CVU Design & Engineering Technology teacher Olaf Verdonk.

The group has always strived to inspire students to be engineers and innovators through exciting, passion based, hands-on learning.  For many years the CVU Engineering Club dominated the Univ. of Vermont's yearly TASC (Technology and Science Competition) taking top prizes in many different categories all the while making future engineers and STEM leaders.
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The RoboHawks "hatched" as team #5741 when they participated in the FTC 2012-13 "Ring It Up" season.  With a very steep learning curve the RoboHawks have grown from a club into an opportunity for students at CVU to pursue engineering problem solving, advanced manufacturing, and complex project management through FIRST passion-based and project based learning.  The team has had many ups and downs over the 10+ seasons participating in FTC.  But the 2020-21 Ultimate Goal was the breakthrough year where the team's hard work earned them several awards and their first trophy!

Past Experience

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2022-2023 Team

CVU Robotics Coach

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​Olaf Verdonk

​Olaf is the RoboHawks faculty advisor and a Design and Engineering Technology teacher at Champlain Valley Union ​High School. When he is not spending endless hours in the shop with the robotics and engineering students, he is outside skiing and playing hockey, eh? 

The FTC Team

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2021-2022 Team



The FTC Team

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Wolfie

12th grade
​Mechanical, Driver Coach
This will be my 7th season, and I love all things that have to do with CAD (Fusion 360, Onshape, Sketchup and more), technology, and making things. I also race drones, take photos and ski.
Favorite Color: #221CBF​
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Animal: ​Wolf
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Lindsay​

​12th grade
Mechanical, Driver, PR
​This is my third year competing in FTC and second with NEXUS. I'm really excited to be working with the team again this year.
Favorite Color: ​#00807E​
Favorite Food: Burrito
Favorite Animal: Koala
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Jared​

​11th grade
​Mechanical, Driver
​I am a Junior at CVU competing in my 6th FTC competition.
Favorite Color: #F75B02​
Favorite Food: Orecchiette Bolognese
Favorite Animal: Bear

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Jack

11th grade
​Mechanical, Design 
This is my second year of RoboHawks and my first year on the Team.
Favorite Color: #1A05F3​
Favorite Food: Chocolate 
Favorite Animal: ​Dog​
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Crawford

​​11th grade
​Mechanical, Design, Outreach
I am a junior at CVU and this is my first year participating in FIRST. Outside of robotics I like to design projects, ski race, and sail.
Favorite Color: #1403C0​
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Animal: Tarsier
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Sam

11th grade
Mechanical
Hi all, I am a junior here at CVU, and I enjoy ultimate Frisbee, board games, and competitions of almost every variety.​
Favorite Color: #630194​
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Animal: Bear

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Violet​

​11th grade
Mechanical 
This is my first year on the team, and I hope to enjoy being on the team for the remainder of my high school years. I enjoy problem-solving and puzzles.
Favorite Color: #467943​
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Animal: ​Turtles
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Charlotte

10th grade
Mechanical
​This is my first year on the CVU RoboHawks team! I like building things, playing field hockey, and doing art.​
Favorite Color: #FFC0CB 
Favorite Food: Sandwiches
Favorite Animal: Sun Conure

​​If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch!
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • FLL Program
  • JV FTC Program
  • 2022 Freight Frenzy
  • FIRST® Tech Challenge
  • Resources
  • Contact